Mario Cipollini threatened with two and a half year prison sentence in domestic violence case
Case involving the ex-sprinter's former wife and then brother in law nears its conclusion

The public prosecutor of Lucca, Letizia Cai, has called for a two and a half year prison sentence for ex-world champion, Mario Cipollini, arguing that the former cyclist is guilty of “stalking his ex-wife, violence and threats to his ex-wife’s partner.”
The court case first began in March 2019 when the initial allegations of abuse against his ex-wife were made.
Sabrina Landucci was married to Cipollini from 1993-2005. On one occasion according to La Gazzetta di Lucca, Landucci was assaulted by Cipollini as the “former world champion grabbed his wife by her neck and threw her against the wall”.
The charges against Cipollini include mistreatment of the family, threats against Landucci and an alleged assault.
La Gazzetta di Lucca also reported one incident where Cipollini threatened to make Landucci’s new partner and ex-footballer Silvio Giusti "disappear" after confronting him in a gym. “You are nobody and you are worth nothing, while I am Cipollini. If one day I wake up and I want to make you disappear, no one can find you anymore, I have friends everywhere,” the Italian reportedly said.
Throughout the case, the court heard of numerous incidents in which Cipollini “performed a series of acts damaging the physical and mental integrity” of Landucci, involving punches, slaps, kicks, injuries and death threats.”
On one occasion he allegedly assaulted Landucci at her work place. On January 6 2017, “in front of colleagues and clients”, Cipollini “grabbed my neck and then banged my head against the wall. I had injuries, so I had to go to the emergency room.” she told the court.
Sabrina Landucci’s mother Giovanna Di Simo has also previously accused the former champion of being an “aggressive person”. In 2020, the then 79 year old accused Ciipollini in court of chasing her daughter with a gun "he kept a gun under his pillow. I saw him with my own eyes grabbing Sabrina by the neck at the bottom of the stairs of my house and then chasing her in the garden, wearing a brace on his knee after a skiing accident, armed with a revolver." she said.
The 55 year old Italian had a glittering career, winning 12 individual stages at the Tour de France, 42 at the Giro d’Italia and a World Championships title. He has since founded Cipollini bikes, which were used by the Italian team, ISD-Neri.
Sabrina Landucci’s lawyer is also seeking damages of €80,000 for her client in addition to a prison sentence.
Sabrina Landucci also alleges that the numerous threats included on one occasion him threatening to kill her saying “I’ll kill you. You’ll hear the sound of the bones when they break.” Other occasions included him threatening to “tear [Landucci’s] brains out with his hands”.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic and Cipollini’s ill-health - in late 2019, he underwent a five-hour heart operation. The trial has faced several delays.
During the delays, further evidence has come to light, mostly from Landucci’s mother. As well as the incident involving a gun, Giovanna Di Simo has recounted a series of threatening phone calls and that Landucci feared reporting him due to the impact on his career.
There were “phone calls with screams" and "text messages sent a hundred times a day". "Possessive and jealous. First he cried and asked for forgiveness, asking her to go home and then he started insulting her and threatening her and all her relatives saying he was ready to make a massacre.” she said.
Di Simo claimed that on one occasion Cipollini’s maid had phoned her fearing that he would kill Landucci, “Once their maid telephoned me telling me to run to Cipollini's house because she feared he would kill Sabrina. I rushed over there and noticed red marks on her neck as if the then husband had grabbed her by the throat. She cried and told me that he had also dragged her by the hair. I invited her to go to the emergency room, but she was afraid both for us family members and for not wanting to ruin Cipollini's career," she added.
Mario Cipollini has denied all allegations including threatening Landucci with a weapon. The verdict is expected to be delivered on 13 July.
There have been other examples of controversy involving Cipollini since his retirement. In 2016 he faced criticism for riding one of his own brand bikes without a helmet. His response was a picture of him on social media riding a turbo trainer naked except for a helmet.
In February 2020, Cipollini was in court accused of hitting his sister due to a disagreement over the custody of his pet chihuahua. The charges were later dropped.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom is a Digital News and Features Writer at Cycling Weekly.
Before joining the Cycling Weekly team, he worked at Oxford Brookes University, most recently in the Internal Communications team. An avid cycling follower with a keen interest in racing, he previously featured on cycling blog, Casquettes and Bidons.
-
-
Women pro cyclists take a knee during national anthem at US Pro Nationals to protest abortion ruling
Start line of the US National Championship road and criterium turned into a silent protest after Roe v. Wade was overturned
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Alice Towers wins British National Road Championships with long-range solo attack
The 19-year-old became British champion amidst brutal weather conditions in Dumfries and Galloway
By Pete Trifunovic • Published
-
Koen Bouwman overjoyed with mountains classification victory: 'I will never forget these three weeks'
He became the Giro d'Italia's first Dutch mountains classification winner
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Dries De Bondt wins stage 18 of the Giro d'Italia in shock breakaway victory
A miscalculation from the peloton allowed four riders in the breakaway to sprint to victory, with De Bondt crossing the line first
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
'I had lactate up to my ears': Mathieu van der Poel's stage 17 attack was an 'all or nothing' attempt
The Dutchman acknowledged he was perhaps too optimistic, but seemed encouraged by his performance nevertheless
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Julian Alaphilippe says 'broken bones were still painful' when he resumed training - but remains optimistic of Tour de France return
The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider is with his team training in Sierra Nevada as he suggests returning for the Tour de France is still possible
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Santiago Buitrago executes powerful attack on final climb to win stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia
The Colombian powered past Mathieu van der Poel and Gijs Leemreize to win the first Grand Tour stage of his career
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Jan Hirt wins first-ever Grand Tour stage with victory on stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia
The Czech rider attacked 10km from the line up the final climb of the day, and managed to hold on from Thymen Arensman to take the win
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
João Almeida biding his time at the Giro d'Italia: 'Always keep in mind the next days'
The UAE Team Emirates rider is hoping to secure a podium finish as he expects the final day's time trial to be decisive
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Mikel Landa still in the hunt for Giro d'Italia pink jersey: 'Everything is going according to plan'
The Spaniard spoke confidently during the rest day press conference on Monday ahead of the final week of racing
By Ryan Dabbs • Published